Severe heart failure

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hello,

I have a small dog who is over thirteen years old. Two years ago, we found out he had a heart murmur, and about a month ago, I noticed that Capucin was losing a lot of energy and coughing. I called the vet, and the diagnosis was that he had fluid on his lungs. We changed his treatment to the following:

Nelio 5mg: 1/2 tablet in the evening
Vetmedin 5mg: 1/2 tablet morning and evening
Spironolactone 100mg: 1/4 tablet in the morning, plus 1/4 in the evening for a fortnight.

His cough has eased, but he still has coughing fits several times a day. Strangely, he can seem full of beans one minute and then completely wiped out the next. He is eating and drinking normally, but his urine has a very, very strong smell. He also has a hormonal issue, so his hindquarters are completely hairless with a few sores that sometimes ooze a bit; however, a blood test didn't reveal anything in particular.

The question I am asking myself is: is it normal for the little lad to still be coughing despite the treatment? Is the vet perhaps just trying too hard to keep him going? Is he still happy and comfortable in himself?

As odd as it sounds, he seems much less bloated since starting the treatment. Could the fluid have spread to the rest of his body?

Thank you in advance for your replies.

Translated from French
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Have you asked your vet about it openly? Try to have a proper chat with them and tell them clearly that you don’t want any aggressive treatment, just what’s needed to keep them from suffering... wishing you lots of strength.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    No, sorry, I've exhausted my healthcare budget for my dog. A second vet might just change his treatment again, and it’s not that I’m being stingy, but around £170 in one month is still a lot, especially as it's a lifelong treatment so it's a recurring cost. Plus, I want my old boy to have a peaceful end to his life; I really hope he’ll be up to coming on holiday with us. Sorry, I’m not exactly well-off—we aren't going abroad, we’re only going about 45 miles from home for a bit of a change of scenery.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Is there any chance you could see another vet for a second opinion?

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